In 1894, two scientists independently used snake venom to create the world’s first antivenoms; one discovery changed treatment of deadly bites |
A snake bite in the late 19th century offered little certainty about what would happen next. There were attempts to counter venom with chemicals and other remedies, but no established treatment could directly neutralise the poison. Then, in France in 1894, two research teams arrived at a very different idea. Albert Calmette, working within the…